Please help me!!! How would I set this problem up?

Question

The problem says that in an experiment speed s was measured (in meters per seconds) of a falling object t seconds after it was released. The results were on this table.

t: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4

s: 0, 11.0, 19.4, 29.2, 39.4

I'm supposed to use this to find the linear model on my graphing calculator.

I put this in my graphing calculator by going to STAT then CALC and got:

y=ax+b

a=9.7

b=.4

r=.99933110005

If this were an ordinary problem, I would set it up like y=9.7x+.4, but I'm pretty sure I can't put it like that because of the meters per second part. Can someone pleeeease tell me how to set this problem up????

Many, many thanks.

Answer 1

speed= distance/time

s*t=d

x=t  0,1,2,3,4

y=d  0,11,38.8,78.6,157.6

Answer 2

Hi,

Using what the calculator gave you along with the variables in the problem, your equation would be:

s = 9.7t + .4

This is:

s meters = 9.7 meters/second x t seconds + .4 meters

s meters = 9.7t meters + .4 meters

s meters = (9.7t + .4) meters

I hope that helps!! :-)